CONTEST, the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy, will continue to be organised around four workstreams, each comprising a number of key objectives:
• Pursue: to stop terrorist attacks
• Prevent: to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism
• Protect: to strengthen our protection against a terrorist attack, and
• Prepare: to mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack.
How well is CONTEST tackling terrorism? C
ONTEST, intended to deal with all forms of terrorism, has been in place for nearly
ten years.
How effective has it been in coordinating the efforts to prevent and disrupt the terrorist threat?
At the recent National Security Summit organised by Westminster Briefing, Charles Farr, Director General at the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism at the Home Office, reviewed the progress to date of CONTEST and the current challenges it faces. He believes that CONTEST continues to focus on the right areas of work, “It enables us to address hostile threats on the one hand, and vulnerabilities on the other, combined together to reduce risk.”
The fact that it has survived a change of government is rare for such a strategy. It is also unusual in that it is well known across government, law enforcement and beyond. He said, “You can walk into a High Commission in Islamabad or a police station in Yorkshire and you will find people who know what CONTEST is and are in some way responsible for implementing parts of it.
This is not true of any other government strategy.” The Home Secretary presents an annual report on the previous year’s progress to Parliament and this is made available on the Home Office web site.
The aim of CONTEST is to reduce the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from terrorism.
Additionally, every three months, at least, a highly classified report is made to ministers, the National Security Council and Prime Minster, with recommendations on how to update the strategy.
So let’s examine each of the work streams that make up CONTEST: Pursue, Prevent, Protect and Prepare.
Pursue - the investigation and disruption of terrorist attacks
As well as efforts to arrest and convict those involved with terrorism, the approach is to develop policy and legislation geared to the operational world.
If you hear gunfire or a weapons attack, leave the area safely if you can. If this puts you in greater danger, find a safe place to take cover
MAKE A PLAN NOW AND STAY SAFE
If you suspect it, report it Anti Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321
24 © CI TY S ECURI TY MAGAZ INE – WINT E R 2015 Advertisements
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